Ball cock



Jan. 23, 1945. B. LEWIS EIAL BALL COCK Filed Ma 21, 1943 Patented Jan. 23, 1945 2,367,951 BALL COCK Howard B. Lewis and Glen M. Larson, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Kirkhill, Inc., Los Angeles, C'aliiZ, a corporation of California Application May 21, 1943, Serial No. 487,906

6 Claims.

This invention relates to float actuated valves and more particularly to ball cock adapted for controlling the admission of water to a flush tank utilized for flushing a toilet.

It is an object of this invention to produce a ball cock applicable for use in Water tanks for controlling the admission of water to a flush tank for flushing toilets and which includes antisiphoning means.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ball cock controlling the admission of water to a flush tank which is of such design as to be susceptible of manufacture from noncritical materials as, for example, plastics and the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide a ball cock controlling the admission of water to a flush tank which includes an admission tube, a cap member slidably mounted over the tube having at its lower end an actuating flange and a forked actuating member adapted to engage-the flange on diametrically opposed points for actuating the cap with reference to the tube.

Other objects and advantages of this invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a sectional elevation of a ball cock embodying my invention illustrating the same as adapted to a fragment of a flush tank.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the ball cock embodied in my invention, the view being from left to right as the ball cock is viewed in Figure 1.

In the preferred embodimentof our invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, l indicates a fragment of a flush tank to which the body 2 of the ball cock is secured. The body 2 includes a supporting flange 3 adapted to be sealed against the bottom of the tank I and from which there is extended a shank 4 which extends through the aperture 5 of the tank I. Threaded to the shank 4 is a nut 6 which presses a washer or gasket 1 against the surface of the tank l to maintain a fluid-tight connection. The shank l extends beyond the nut 6 and provides the means for coupling the flush valve to the water sup-ply line. The body 2 is formed also with an upstanding tube 8 which extends upwardly from the flange 3 within the interior of the tank I.

Th axial passage through the tube 8, flange 3 and shank 4 is of downwardly increasing size as indicated at 9, l0 and II, to provide a core section which permits the easy withdrawal of the core. This permits the body of the ball cock to be easily cast of plastics o-rother suitable material eliminating the use of critical brass in its construction. I I

The exterior of the tube 8 is formed with 1011- gitudinally extending guides l2 which extend radially outward from the tube and provide guide members for guiding the cylindrical valve cap [3.

The valve cap 13 may likewise be cast of similar non-critical materials and is cast to provide an annular flange M at its lower end and an anti-siphon branch l5 at its upper end. The branch I5 is cored to receive an anti-siphon conduit and filling tube 15 which extends upward in the tank I above the overflow stand pipein the water tank. The coring of the branch 15 terminates through a port I! into the interior of the cap l3 above the closure valve IS. The closure valve I8 is of cup construction and is suitably secured to the upper wall 19 of the cap l3. An

annular recess 20 is formed in the upper wall i9 above the valve member 18 and a port 2| is formed through the upper or horizontal branch of the valve member l8 providing communication with the annular recess 20.

The valve member I8 has a downwardly extending cup skirt 22 which is turned'inwardly at its lower end 23 to engage the outer periphery of the tube 8. Means are provided for actuating the cap l3 to and from closing position, which means as herein illustrated includes a fork 24 which is pivotally mounted on a rod 25. The rod 25 is secured in position between the ears 26 cast to extend upwardly 'from the flange 3 of the body 2. The fork 24 has a pair of bearing feet 2! which are adapted to engage the upper surface of the actuating flange M of the cap l3. The feet 21 engage this flange on diametrically opposed points.

Carried by the fork 24 is a rod 28 to the free end of which is secured an ordinary float ball 29 of any suitable or desirable construction. The float ball 29 as illustrated in Figure 1 is broken away but, as is well understood in this art, is a complete fluid-tight ball so that it will float par- 'tially submerged in the water in the flush tank I.

The mode of operation of the ball cock embodying our invention is: Assuming the flush tank I filled with water, the flush tank discharge valve (not shown but of any suitable construction) is opened to empty the tank I, permitting the float ball 29 to drop, lifting the pressure feet 21 away from the flange M. The pressure of the water from the supply line, acting against the cap l3, raises the cap I3, admitting water over the top of the tube 8, past the flexible skirt 22 and downwardly between tube 8 and cap I3, into the tank I. When the tank is full, the float ball 29 is raised to the surface of the water and the feet 21, bearing on the flange I4, return the cap [3 to position to engage the valve member l8 with the end of the tube 8 stopping further inflow of water. The fork 24 has a foot 30 which limits the downward movement of the ball 29 by en.- gagement with the flange 2, so that the cap l3 can not be lifted off from the tube 8.

In the event of the development of a vacuum in the water supply line connected with the passage ll, back-siphoning of water from the tank.

I is prevented, even though the ball 29 may be in a lowered position in the tank I because the lower end 23 of the skirt 22 prevents water from reaching the valve as the vent provided through the port 2| breaks the vacuum by allowing. air topass into supply line I I through vent andfilling tube "5, passage-way l1, and recessed groove 20;

The vent and filling tube l6 also serves in thefilling of the toilet bowl. As is well. understood in this art, when the toilet i flushed, the tank ball (not shown) drops into a valve seat at the bottom of the tank, and cuts off the flow of water to the bowl. The siphon action of the trap often draws so much water out of the bowl that. the.

water seal in the trap is broken; The tube l6 then provides the means for admitting water into the bowl to refill the trap, thewater passing up through the tube 8 and through the portZl, annular recess 20, and port I 1, into and through the filling and vent tube It, while the main stream of. water is filling the tank i as described in the preceding paragraph.

It will be observed that the distance of move-' ment of the valve l8-upward from the end of the.-

tube 8 is controlled by the limiting foot 30 of. the fork 24, so that the cup 22 can not pass off from the end of the tube 8'. As the cup is formed of flexible rubber or like material, it will flex to permit and restrict flow as hereinabove defined.

Having fully described our invention, itis to beunderstood that we do not wish to be limited to the details herein set forth, but our invention is of the full scope of the appended claims;

Wei-claim:-

1. In a ball cook, the combination of a body having a tubular extension, a cap member adapted to slide longitudinally of the tubular extension, guide members interposed between the cap and the tube, a cup valve member carried by the cap in position to engage the end of the tube,.the.cap

member having an anti-siphon connection, an-

anti-siphon tube connected with the connection,

port means connecting the tube with the interior of the valve cup member, and the valve cup member having an inwardly turned edge adapted to. be engaged on the periphery of the tube. under the force of fluid within the fluid passage between the cap and thetube- 2. In a ballv cock member, the combination of a, body having a tubular ,extension extending. therefrom, a closure. capzfitted over. the tube andadapted to move longitudinally with relation thereto, guide members between the cap and the tube for guiding thecap, a cupvalve member. carried by the cap to engage the end and the adjacent sides of the tube, anti-siphon means connected with the cap member and being vented through said cup valve member into the interior thereof, and means for actuating the cap member, said means including means for limiting the extent of travel of the cap member along the tube.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a body having a tubular extension, a cap member adapted to slide longitudinally of the tube extension, guide members interposed between the cap and the tube, a cup valve member carried by the cap in position to engagethe end of the tube, an anti-siphon tube extending from said cap member, port means connecting the tube with the interior of the cup valve member and with the space between the cap and the tubular extension, and the valve cup member having an inwardly turned edge adapted to engage the periphery of the tubular extension to seal said tubular extension against back flow of fluids through the passageway between said cap member and the exterior of said tubular extension.

4. In a device of the class described: a body structure adapted to be connected with a water supply line and including an upright discharge tube and journal elements forming a fulcrum axis located at one side of said discharge tube; a capfitting over said discharge tube, movable up and down thereon,.and defining therewith a downwardly opening annular discharge passage, said cap including a bottom flange; a float-actuated operating lever journaled by said journal elements, said lever including a pair of feet movable as said float is elevated to engage said bottom flange and depress said cap on said discharge tube, and a stop element engageable with said body structure as. said float is lowered to limit through said feet the raising of said cap member; and a dual valve element Within said cap adapted to seal against the end of said discharge tube and against the side walls thereof, said valve element including anti-siphon ports between its sealing connections with said discharge tube 5. In a valvestructure: a discharge tube; a.

cap fitting over and movable up and down on said discharge tube and forming therewith an annular discharge passage; anda dual valve element within said cap including a first seal means adapted to seal against the end of the discharge tube and a second seal means adapted to close.

saidv annular discharge passage. against back flow therethrough; and anti-siphon ports between said firstand. second seal means.

6. A valve structure adapted to normally occupy a submerged position in the liquid discharged therefrom, comprising: a discharge tube; a cap fitting over and movable up and down on said discharge tube and formin therewith an annular discharge passage; and a dual valve element within said cap including a first seal means adapted to seal against the end of the discharge tube and a second seal means adapted to close.

said annular discharge passage against back flow therethrough; anti-siphon'ports between said first and secondseal means; and a. vent tube communicating with said anti-siphon ports and adapted to extend" above the level of the liquid in which the valvestructure is submerged.

HOWARD B. LEWIS. GLEN M. LARSON. 

